Madrid Service To Bring Greater Choice For Travellers

Etihad Airways’ direct non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Madrid bring more choice for travellers as the airline connects Spain to its rapidly expanding flight network.

Speaking
at a media gathering in Madrid to mark the start of the new capital to capital
link, James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said
the airline’s global network brings major benefits to Spain and delivers enhanced
flight connections to and from the country.

The
event was attended by the UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Her
Excellency Dr Hissa Abdulla Ahmed Al-Otaiba.

Mr
Hogan said: “Our new Madrid service gives Spanish business and leisure
travellers greater access to the UAE with a total of 2,096 weekly seats on
offer. It also provides convenient two-way connections via our Abu Dhabi hub to
important markets on Etihad Airways’ strong global network.”

The
Madrid service is operated four times per week by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft
with a total of 262 seats in a two-class configuration: 22 Business Class and
240 Economy Class.

Air
travellers can now fly from Madrid, with one stop in Abu Dhabi and connect conveniently
onto 30 destinations across the Gulf region, Africa, Indian subcontinent,
Southeast Asia and Australia, through Etihad Airways and its partner airlines.

From
Madrid, travellers can connect on the network of Etihad Airways’ codeshare
partner, Air Europa, to eight cities in Spain including Barcelona, Bilbao, Gran
Canaria, La Coruna, Lanzarote, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife and Vigo, and also
to Santo Domingo – the capital of the Dominican Republic.

Still
more Spanish cities open up a result of Etihad Airways’ recently signed
interline agreement with Spanish rail operator, Renfe. The agreement gives
travellers rail transport options beyond Madrid to 28 Spanish cities including
Barcelona, Malaga and Valencia. Guests can also book connections between
Barcelona and eight points in Spain.

“The greater
choice for travellers is a testament to the depth and strength of our business
model. Our partnership strategy enables us to work with other airlines to offer
more flights, to more destinations with more connections,” Mr Hogan said.

In
addition to providing access for business travellers and holidaymakers, Mr
Hogan said the new service between Abu Dhabi and Madrid will also drive and
support the trade and cultural ties between the UAE and Spain.

“Currently
around 1,000 Spanish companies operate and more than 12,000 Spanish nationals
live and work in the UAE and these numbers are growing. The UAE is Spain’s
largest trade partner across the Gulf region, with trade volumes almost
doubling in the last five years – from EUR 1 billion in 2009 to EUR 1.9 billion
in 2014,” said Mr Hogan.

Economic
cooperation and investment between the two countries has also witnessed
considerable growth across multiple sectors including petrochemicals,
construction, education, health care, transportation and tourism, and in the small
and medium-sized business sector. There are also significant Spanish investments
in desalination, water treatment and renewable projects in the UAE.